THE 2002 ELECTIONS: MIDWEST; SOUTH DAKOTA

Published: November 7, 2002

In a Senate race that became a proxy fight between President Bush and the Senate majority leader, Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Mr. Daschle can take a little satisfaction, for now. His candidate, the Democratic incumbent, Tim Johnson, held a 527-vote edge in the initial tally over the Republican challenger, Representative John Thune, who was recruited by the White House to make the run.

But Mr. Thune did not concede and he has the right to a recount. He said he would await the results of the official vote tally, expected next week.

Mr. Thune's place in the House will be taken by Gov. William J. Janklow, a popular Republican who was barred by a term-limits law from running again. Mr. Janklow will be replaced as governor by Mike Rounds, the former Republican State Senate majority leader, who defeated Jim Abbott, a Democrat.